"lumen naturae" - the light within darkness. Spiritual alchemy. Photography as a journey of connection.

Nijinsky and the Ecstasy of the Divine, a photographic collaboration with Aleix Martinez

This series of work was inspired by Nijinsky, the genius Polish/Russian dancer from the early 20th century who changed the face of dance for ever. A collaboration with Aleix Martinez, soloist of the Hamburg Ballet, this work explores the creative essence that drove Nijinsky.

"People must not think me. I must be understood through feeling" - Vaslav Nijinsky

la poesia della danza, a series in collaboration with Venettia Miller. The intent was for dancer to go to that space of dance as connection to the soul. There was no music, no direction, no choreography. Just a room, a dancer, a photographer, window light and the purity of intent.

Dances with Lyrebirds

A collaboration with Gretel Taylor, dance artist and Anthony Magen, sound artist. Photographs made in the lyrebird habitat of Mt Donna Buang, Sherbrooke Forest, Badger Creek and Mt Riddell, all in Victoria, in 2015. We give thanks to the Wurundjeri elders and custodians for their guidance and support and of course to the lyrebirds and the forest.

Immersion

The Pretender

Portal

The Forest, Glory Be

Symphonic

Mimic

Sun Stun

Fathom

Interior

Home, Donna Buang

Immersion, Heart of the Forest

Come Hither

Call and Respond

Stomping Ground

Honouring the Ancestors

Flight

Windows and Pathways

Windows, pathways, gates, tunnels.... As a metaphor for how we approach the borderlands of our life I am interested in how our thoughts and feeling about the space around us is impacted and framed by these natural and man made devices. Does a window invite us outside so that we feel almost more engaged with the outside than we might otherwise? Does it keep us in, allowing us to be even more internal than we might be in a windowless room? Does a gate keep us out or announce the pathway in? The emotional inner world impacted by these external devices is the expiration here.

Music

An exploration of the connection of musicians to their music, seeking that place where they are utterly immersed and in a state of pure connection.

The Ear of Hennessy, Melbourne

William Hennessy, violinist and concert master, rehearsing Beethoven's Violin Concerto at home in Melbourne in 2015.

Sergey Malov, Berlin

Isabelle Faust, Berlin

Emily's Violin

James Rhodes, Melbourne

Portraits

Indigo's Journal

Natasha

Vincent

Vittorio

Dreane

An extraordinary woman

Venettia

Ian

Peter

Oak

Mina

Claudio

Sherry

Marlo

Metropolis

NY Passing By

Silver Gelatin Print

New York

NY Diagonals I

New York

NY Diagonals II

New York

Illuminous

A series in collaboration with Dr Indigo Perry and Andrew Darling. What began as a private improvisation collaboration between a writer and a trumpeter has become a profound artistic experience and has evolved into a performance piece in its own right. This photograph is from the first 'witnessing' of this collaboration - made in the Redwoods of East Warburton in Victoria, this was also the home of the first sessions the artists had some 15 months earlier. For more info about that project see http://www.indigoperry.com/illuminous/

Muse

part of the series 'Illuminance

Silver Gelatin

Image size: 50cmx50cm, framed size: 85x85cm - edition of 5 +2AP

Image size: 15xmx15cm, framed size: 28cmx28cm - edition of 10 +2AP

Resonance

Betwixt

Actors in Character

I have been working with actors in character in a way that has proven potent as a process for the actor and interesting artistically from my perspective. The actor steps into the character with just the camera and I present, without the benefit of other characters, staging, props or costumes or audience feedback. I do not speak, I am purely witness, the camera is the audience. My aim is to find 6-8 images that represent the story of that character. Their actor's job is to reveal the character. In between is the alchemy of our collaboration. The actors I have worked with have initially found the photographs confronting, then informative then finally liberating as somehow the process is yet another tool in deepening their craft, in fine tuning their instrument (as Larry Moss might say).

Oh my love

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Regret

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Life

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Cheers my Love

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Love Me

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Hurt Me

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Please...

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

You Pathetic Little Man

Jenny Wu - as Miss Julie from Stringberg's play of the same name

Oasis

Oasis is a Sydney refuge for disadvantaged youth. I was fortunate enough during 2006-2008 to be given permission by the young people at Oasis to take and publish their photographs, accompanied by their own words.

To me portraits are about revealing ‘aspects of self’, how you want to be perceived, how you perceive yourself to be, and who you really are. It’s not about the veneer. My portraits are about looking inside to capture the truth of where that person is. In this space. At this time.

It’s a two way process that involves trust. As a photographer I need to be "present”, then get out of the way to allow the individual to be seen.

At Oasis I found authenticity. These are tough kids. They've learnt to be, in order to survive their experiences. But they are also regular kids with a need to belong, with hopes and dreams just like the rest of us. In many cases, I was astounded by their level of maturity, self-understanding and wisdom at such a young age.

Many clients continue to come back and visit years after leaving there. It gives a sense of family and a place to belong, that recognises their inherent value.